Air blowing exercise head for torpedoes



May 5, 1931. J. L. KING ET AL 1,803,530:

AIR BLOWING EXERCISE HEAD FOR TORPEDOES Filed April 27. 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 5 1931- J. l.. KING ET Al. 1,803,530

AIR BLOWING EXERCISE HEAD FOR TORPEDOES Filed April 27, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZT/Tg. 72 7/ lNvEfvToRs JA M55 L. KING C HESTER Z' M/NKL ER "fo THoMAs J. G/LL.

ATTORNEY May 5, 1931. J. L. KING E1' AL 15803530 AIR BLOWlNG EXERCISE HEAD FOR TORPEDOES Filed April 27, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Efzl' 5 v l /5 l ,el

/Nvf/v Tons.

5W@ Afro/MEV May 5, 193.1. J. KING ET AL AIRBLOWING EXERCISE HEAD FOR TORPEDOES Filed April 27, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVEA/roRs. JA Mis L. Kw@

CHESTER TM/NKLER Y@ J/foMAs J. G/LL.

vvddvm ATTORNEY y May 5, 1931. J. l.. KING.l ET AL 1,803,530

AIR BLOWING EXERCISE HEAD FOR TORPEDOES- Filed April 27, 1929 6 'sheets-sheet 5 /NVENTo/es. JAMES L, ffl/v6 C//Esrfk ZUM/wa 5R "'fa T//oMAs d. G/LL.

ATTQRNEY May 5, 1931. J. l.. KING ET Al.

AIR BLOWING EXERCISE HEAD FOR TORPEDOES Fi1ed April 27, 1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ywr" Arme-NEX Patented May 5, 1931 riJNiriiD STATES .smear seizes JAMiLs i.. KING, or UnirrnnsmAT-ESNAVY, Ann cnnsrnn T. MINKLER AND 'alici/insa. GILL, A0F nnWPoRnnHoD-E ISLAND An; 'BLOWI'NG minimise HEAD non iroarnnons Application iilediApril r2'?, 1929. Seriali-No. 358,707.

Our inventionrelates broadly to heads for torpedoes' and --more `particularly to practice or experimental heads for torpedoes thatare substituted forj the usual Warhead--rduring practice 'ortest runs of a torpedo. p

As is Well-.known to those familiar-With the subject., submarine torpedoes are exceedinglyconiplicatedand have a large number ofdelicate mechanisms closely confined in a. small space. .In order toestablish their i'eliabilityendaccuracy .it is necessary that, fromtime to` time, the torpedo begiven practice or test runs, during Whichruns the usual Warltime head has-heretofore been ref placed byva rpractice head for the folloiving reason. During these practice or tests runs, it' frequently Vhappens that dueA to inherent negative buoyancy,` deficiencies `incertainv mech-a-nical respects, untimelyjstoppi-ng of f its engine, or other unforeseen circumstances,

the torpedo ldoesnotfunction properly and sinksb'e'lovv "the ldesired depth,4V Should any of fthel above mechanisms failfto function properly, the torpedo may'become sub-- -merged invvery ydeep Water, and, infact,

Ymay become fdeeply 'embedded -in the mud forming the Waters bed. Should thisoccun it is with great -d-ihcul'ty'that it is l'ocatedfby adiver, unlesssome means isypro'vided to indica-te the position of the sunken torpedo.

Various mechanisms have been" devised-for accomplishing this purpose but they have beenopen to various objections-and invmost instances have failed to function` as intended. Y The present invention is, thereforeydirectf ed `to an iiiiprovedpractice head adapted to function at a predetermined time,`or ivhen the torpedo reaches a predetermined'depth, in 'such a manner as to exhaust the air from .j the air iaisk-sothat the bubbles coming tothe' surface of the Watermay mark the location of the' torpedo. The present 'invention also functions byfexpelling Water Vballast from the exercise headvand unused air from the-air flask to give the torpedopositive buoyancy.

The present invention is designed .to release Wa-ter ballast from the practice `head andai-r from .the #air flask fofa torpedo tofin.-

dicateits position, vand operates either on excess .hydrostatic pressure as-:wouldobtain4 when the torpedo sinks, at the end of its run ,y to a Ydept-h;greater than that' for Which the mechanism is set, or through the medium 'of ajmechanism set into operation after a predetermined interval of time yhas lelapsed 'after 5,5 discharging the torpedo. n p

The invention comprehends a simple and practical mechanism WhichA v vi-ll be reliable and veificifent :in operation', inexpensive'. to manufacture and install, and `Which Will posi-y 60 tively provide for the release of Water ballast from the `iractice head and air from theair flask of a torpedo `at the proper time.

With the above a-nd "other objects in 'view the inventionv consists in the construction, 65 combined andar-rangement of. parts vas Will bel hereinafter more fully described.l

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming -a'partfof this specification, in Which 'like reference characters -in- 70' -dicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and invvhich Y Y AFigure l -is a longitudinal 4section of a torpedo' practice head and portion of the rair flask showing our inventioninstalle'd, Y

Figuie is a vertical section through the air Preleasing mechanism,

f Figure-3 isa diagrammatic elevational sectional View showing the clock train employed in the T-tiine controlledmechanism,

Figure l is a-sectional vi'evv on -t-he li-ne 4-4 of Figure 5, Y Y Y Figur-e 5 is an elevational vievv inthe region cfa-nd lbetween the lines 5 5 of Figiire'Q,

4Figure v6 is :a sectional 'view on 'the line 6 6 85 of Figure 5, i

lFigure 7 isafsectional view on the line 7 -7 ofFigure 8,

`Figure 8 is anelevational View inthe region of andfbetiveen the lines "8-8 of Figure 2,

Figure) is a-secti'oii 'view on theline,9;.-9 0f Figure 8,

Figure llisan eleva-tionfofa ratchet 2in-"9.5 rangement employed in curi-invention, and

v Figureslfto.llare-details of various elements employed ino-ur invention.

Referring more-particularly to Figure l of theldravvings, findicates Ia-iil air.dash-mountedV 100 within the body 6 of any conventional type of torpedo to which a practice head 7 is attached, in any suitable manner. The practice head is then filled with a liquid ballast, preferably water. A valve 8 is mounted within the practice head and is held normally seated against the wall thereof. The purpose of this valve will be explained hereinafter. The mechanism of the present invention is mounted within a casing 10 secured to the upper interior wall of the practice head, and which has communication with the air iiask through a connection 11.

The mechanism above referred to is more clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, and includes among other elements a winding spindle 12 that is provided with an upper end suitably constructed for the reception of a tool for winding purposes as shown in detail in Figure 12. Secured to lthe winding spindle and turning with it are two ratchet wheels 17 and 18, the upper one 17 being the winding ratchet wheel and being held against backward movement by a pawl 19 pivoted in the bearing plate 20, the pawl being held against the wheel by a spring 21, as is more clearly shown in Figure 11. The function of this ratchet and pawl is' to prevent the spindle from unwinding after it has been wound. The mechanism is set into operation by pushing the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet, as will be later explained. The lower, or hammer ratchet wheel 18 is likewise engaged by a pawl 22, that is held in engagement therewith by a spring 23, see Figure 10.

The function of this ratchet and pawl is to control the movement of a hammer 24 that is free to rotate on the spindle 12. The ratchet wheel 18 being keyed to the spindle and the pawl being mounted on the hammer, the latter does not turn with the spindle beyond a predetermined distance, this distance being regulated by a stop 25 against which the hammer butts when the mechanism is being wound. When the spindle is rotated in the opposite direction through a means to be later described, the pawl engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel, locking the hammer and ratchet wheel together so that they will move simultaneously in the same direction the spindle is moving. In the course of-this rapid rotation of the hammer it strikes a nipple 26 within the casing 10, shearing it from the high pressure air connection 11 to the air flask. A buffer 27 is positioned just beyond the nipple to stop the hammer in its flight and absorb the shock of its sudden stopping.

The only other connection that is made to the spindle 12 is the inner end of a ribbon like mainspring 28, the other end of which is secured to a housing 29 forming a mainspring case. Turning the winding spindle l in a clockwise direction winds up the mainspring concentrically about the spindle, and, hence, at all times, the potential energy of the mainspring is tending to turn the spindle in a reverse direction but it is prevented from so doing by the engagement of the winding pawl 19 with the winding ratchet wheel 17. Once again it is pointed out that it is the mechanically performed disengagement of this pawl which causes the hammer 24 at the predetermined time to ily around and shear oft' the nipple on the air pressure connection.

As above stated the outer end of the mainspring 28 is secured to the inside of the mainspring casing 29 at 30. In winding up the Y mainspring through the spindle the casing therefore tends to follow the winding spindle in rotation, but is prevented from so doing by a gear train composed of the gears 31, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37 and escapement gear 38, see Figure 3. The casing, therefore, becomes a driver through the effort of the mainspring to unwind, and as such drives two separate gear trains, one of which consists of the gears above referred to and the other train consists of the gears 39, 40, 41, 42, 43 and 44. The second of these gear trains, with its' different gear ratios drives a cam 45 which functions with the firing mechanism and the time setting index in a manner hereinafter described.

rlhe escapement of the first train is governed by the escapement gear 38 and pallet bar 46. The pallet bar and its pallets are similar in design and operation to the well known anchor escapement except that they operate in a horizontal plane, and therefore a pendulum is not required. Neither is there a balance wheel and hair spring as the pallet baris heavily constructed and the pallet design such as to render these parts unnecessary. lVhen the torpedo is fired, the escapement gear 38 is freed to turn as rapidly as the inertia of the pallet bar 46 and pallets will permit, it being driven by the mainspring casing through the gear train of which it is a part. Previous to the time of discharging the torpedo, however, this train is held locked by a long vertical pin 447 conneet-ed at its upper end to an ineria starting arm 48, shown in detail in Figure 14. This pin rests between two adjacent teeth of the escapement gear and prevents it Vfrom turning until -the pin is released as will now be considered.

The inertia starting arm 48 is pivoted at one end to a post 49 positioned between the bearing plates 2O and 59, and is weighted at the other end` as at 51, by increasing its thickness or by adding thereto a mass serving as a weight. This arm rotates horizontally about its pivot, except in so far as escapement gear locking pin 47 prevents it in one direction and an inertia starting arm locking pin 52, that normally rests against a lug 53 on the inertia starting arm 48, prevents it in the other direction. The intertia starting arm lock pin can be lifted vertically against lar 56 on the pin 52. This movement is accomplished automatically through the shock when the torpedo is discharged by the inertia of the inertia starting arm 48. The arm 48 swings relative to the locking pin 52 with such force as to cause the pin 52 to ride up a beveled face of the lug 53 secured to the arm. Manifestly, once this lug has swung clear of the pin 52, the pin is forced downward by the spring 54 and locks the starting arm out so that it cannot swing back to its original position which would cause pin 47 to again Vseat itself between the teeth of the' escapement gear 38 and stop movement in the trainof gears, as, for example, if the torpedo should dive into the mud. It will be understood, of course, that when the inertia starting arm is swung, the locking pin becomes disengaged from the es'capement gear. When it is desired to reset the mechanism, after it hasl ceased to function at the end of its'run, the inertia starting arm 48 is restored to its former position bypressing one end of a small lever 57 pivoted to the bearing plate 55, which lifts the pin 52 against the pressure of the spring 54, and then by inclining the mechanism, the starting arm 48 falls back to its safety position, that is, to that position in which the pin 52 will again drop behind-the lug, when pressure is removed from the lever. 'This causes the escapement gearlocking pin to again engage the teeth of the gear 28 holding it against movement. Pressure isnow removed from the lever and the mechanism is ready'for the next shot.

The tiring mechanism cam and the time setting index 13 as before stated are driven by the gear train consisting of gears 39 to 44 inclusive from the mainspring casing 29. This combined unit (cam 45 and time setting index 13) is in engagement with the gear train through a-saw tooth ratchet 14, one

L portion of which is formed on the unit member and theother on the'gear 44. The 'driving faces of the teeth are vertical while the other faces are beveled to permit turning the unit independently of the gear 44 in one direction only. A small spiral spring 15 bearing against bearing plate gives a icontinual pressure tothe combined unit, tendingy to keep it engaged with the teeth on the gear V44, but at the same time permitting the indej pendent movement above stated. -The rotation of the gears in the train just mentioned is such las to cause the time setting index to make approximately three-fourths of a revolution in twenty minutes, which in turn consumes approximately one-third of the energy of the mainspring28. Y

As the time setting index is -made integral with the ring mechanism cam 45 it is apparent that if the' index is set for any speciiic .f time according to adjacent grad-nations on the upper face of the bearing plate 55, then the firing mechanism cam will also be .displaced this time interval -from its Zero time 'r tiring position. The only precaution to be observed in this setting for time is that the teeth 14 on the connecting ratchet must be in Contact at their driving faces. Th'ere are two separate and distinct means for setting the mechanism into operation, one of which is the clock train above described and the other is a hydrostatic` attachment, each of which performs its function independently of the other, ybut both set the mechanism into operation by disengagingpawl 19 from the ratchet wheelv as previously stated.' Y,

Consider-ing the clock releasing 'mechanism iirst, reference being had to Figures 5 and 6., it will be noted, particularly in Figuref, that that a small toe 58 is formed on a bar 59 that is pivoted at 60 to the bearing pljate l20. This toe is adapted to ride on the periphery ofthe common shai'tf61 of the cam 45 and the time setting index 13. However, owing to thectension of a spring 63, one j end of which is attached to the free end of the bar and the other end of which is attached toa post-o-r similar member 64 mounted on the bearing pla-te 20, the toe drops into a groovey 62 formed'in the common shaft whenvfthe groove registers Vwith the toe freeing a bell vcrank lever 65. The'bell crank'lev'er, that is :'pivotedat'66 to the bearing plate 20,-is held against the tension of a spring'? connected 'to one lof its ends, by yan upturned portion 68 that res-ts against a projection 69 on thejfsid'evof the bar opposite to 'that of the toe. Freeing this restraining means permits the lspring 67 to turn the 'lever' about its pivot cans-ing `one yarm thereof -to bear against a trigger pin 'Y0-'secured to the winding -spindle ratchet pawl 19. It is this lpressure lwhich disengages the pawlfrom the ratchet wheel 17 vreleasing the winding'spindle 12 so that under the turning movement 'of the mainspring 28, the hammer 24 aty the bottom of the spindle is 'caused to be swung around shearing "oif the nipple 26jon the "end of the high pressure air line. De'- tai-ls of construction of the bar `59vfandbel1 crank lever may be seen in Figures 15 and 13 respectively, and also Figure 1v1 shows more clearly the `trigger pin 70.

This type of releasingmechanismis again reset to its'initial tiring position by turning the time setting index 13, which in turn'rotates the cam 45. As the v,cam is turned vit pushes back the'bell cranklever 65 so that the toe on the bar 59 can ride up the inclined side of the groove 62 in the common shaft 61 engaging theparts 68 and 69 to hold the bell crank lever away from the trigger pin 70 until the toe again drops-into the groove.

The hydrostatic attachment, 'shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5, is for the purpose'of setting llO and 20.

the nipple, as above explained, should the torpedo sink below a predetermined depth. This attachment includes a diaphragm 7l that is secured in any desirable manner within a cover 72 to the casing l0, the cover being suitably constructed to receive the diaphragm and permit it to function. The water pressure, water entering through openings 7 3 in the cover, on the upper side of the diaphragm causes a downward pressure to be exerted on a lever arm 7 4 near its center point by a stud 75 carried by the diaphragm. The lever arm one end of which is pivoted at 76 to an ear 77 carried by the top, exerts a pressure on a vertical pin 78 against the action of a spring 79, which may be regulated in compression by a split nut 8O secured on the upper screwthreaded end of pin 78.

On the other end of this pin there is a cyi lindricalbut-ton 8l which holds a second bell crank lever 82, see particularly Figure 4, in a set position against the tension of a spring 83 attached to one end of the lever, which is pivoted at 84 between the bearing plates 55 At its other end,.this bell crank lever bears against the upper end of the trigger pin 70, attached to the winding spindle ratchet wheel. pawl 19. When the downward pressure on the pin 78 is sufficiently great to overcome the tension of the spring 79, the button at the lower end of the pin is pushed clear of the bell crank lever 82 which turns about its pivot, under tension of the spring 83, causing the free end thereof to bear against the trigger'pin with the result above described.

To reset the hydrostatic releasing mechanism it is only necessary to push to one side the bell crank lever through the means of a resetting knob 85 attached to the lever, which permits the vertical pin and button to resume their original positions due to the pressure of the spring 7 9.

Before the torpedo is discharged the cover 72Vof the casing is removed and the escapement train locked as previously described; that is, by pressing downwardly on the lever 57 attached to the bearing plate 55 and inclining the mechanism forward so that the vertical locking pin 47 will engage with the escapement gear 58. The clock releasing mechanism is then set to functionat the proper time by moving the time set-ting index 13 in a counter-clockwise direction to the nearest time indication shown on the graduations on the bearing plate greater than the desired time and a slight movement of the driving` faces of the ratchet 14 will bring'them into proper engagement. The mainspring 28 is then fully wound and the cover and casing reassembled in a water tight condition. rlhe high pressure air connection 1l is attached to the air flask 5 of the torpedo whereupon the torpedo is in condition for its trial run. As soon as the torpedo sustains the shock of discharge the clock releasing mechanism is set into operation, and after a determined interval of time the mechanism functions as decribed to shear oli' the nipple 26 permitting the air to escape from the air iiashto the casing 10.

Circumferentially about the wall of the casing, just above the connection of the high pressure air line therewith, there are a number of outlets 86 protected by a suitable covering 87, which preferably is composed of a resilient substance such as rubber. As the air under pressure is admitted to the casing the pressure therewithin becomes greater than that therewithout, consequently forcing` the protective covering away from the outlets, whereupon the air escapes into the exercise head itself. The air escaping into the exer- -cise head increases the pressure therein forcing` the liquid ballast outward through the valve 8 producing bubbles in the surrounding medium. These bubbles rising to the surface of said medium indicate t-he location of the torpedo, either at the expiration of the predetermined time interval or should the torpedo sink below a predetermined level.

lt will be understood that the above description and accompanying drawings comprehend only the general and preferred embodiment of our invention and that minor changes in details of construct-ion, proportion and arrangement of parts may be made within the scope of the appended claims and without sacriiicing any of the advantages of our invention.

rlhe invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

Having thus described our invention what we claim is K l. In an exercise head for a torpedo, in combination, a high pressure air line normally closed, shearing means for opening said line, mechanisms controlling said means, and means permitting the freed air to escape to a surrounding medium.

2. In an exercise head for a torpedo, in combination, a high pressure air line normally closed, shearing means for opening said line at a predetermined time interval, a time controlled mechanism for operating said means, and means permitting the freed air to escape to a surrounding medium.

3. In' an exercise head for a torpedo, in combination, a hiOh pressure air line normally closed, shearing means for opening said line, a pressure controlled mechanism for releasing said opening means, and means for permitting the freed air to escape to a surrounding medium.

4. ln an exercise head for a torpedo, in combination, a high pressure air line normally closed, a rotative shearing means for opening said line-at a predetermined time interval, means for operating the rotative means, and means permitting the freed air to escape to a surrounding medium. Y Y' 5. In an exercise head for a torpedo, in combination, a high pressure airline, a rotative shearing means for opening said line When a pre-determined pressure is exerted on the exterior of the exercise head, means for operating the rotative means, and means permitting the freed air to escape to a surrounding medium.

6. In an exercise head for a torpedo, in combination, a high pressure air line, a severable closure for one end of the air line, a rotative means for shearing off said closure to open said line, means for operating the ro tative means, and means permitting the freed air to escape to a surrounding medium.

7. In an exercise head for a torpedo, in combination, a casing, a high pressure air line leading into the casing and being normally closed, a pressure controlled member forming a portion of the casing Wall, a time controlled mechanism Within the casing, shearing means for opening the air line, said shearing means being operable upon functioning of the pressure controlled member and the time controlledl mechanism, and means permitting the freed air to escape to a surrounding medium.

8. In an exercise head for a torpedo, in combination, a high pressure air line normally closed, a spring controlled shearing 1 member for opening said line, means for releasing the spring lcontrolled member atV a predetermined time, and means permitting the freed air to escape to a surrounding medium. p

9. In an exercise head for a torpedo, in combination, a high pressure air linenormally closed, a spring controlled shearing member for opening said line, means for releasing the spring member When thel exterior pressure on the exercise head reaches a predetermined amount, and means permitting the freed air to escape to a surrounding medium.

10. A means for determining the position of a torpedo at the end of a run including, in combination, a supply of air under pressure, a practice head mounted on the torpedo, a liquid ballast in the head, a casing in the head communicating With the air supply, shearing means Within the casing for liberating said-air into the head, and means in the Wall of the head permitting the escape of said ballast and air to a surrounding medium.

1l. A means for determining the location of a torpedo at the end of a run including, in combination, a supply of air under pressure, a practice head mounted on the torpedo, a casing in the head communicating' With the air supply, means Within the casing for liberating said air into the head, a plurality of trains of gears Within the casing, one of Which frees said means for operation, and the other of which controls the rate of movement of said means, and means in the Wall of the head permitting the escape of said air to a surrounding medium.

l2. In an exercise head for a torpedo, in combination, a high pressure air line noi'- inally closed, a rotative shearing means for opening the line, a power element for driving said rotative means, means holding the pOW- er yelement from premature functioning, a time controlled mechanism for freeing said holding means, av pressure controlled mechanism for freeing the holding means, and means permitting the freed air to escape to a surrounding medium.

JAMES L. KING. C. T. MINKLER. T. J. GILL. 

